“‘Tell me one thing, and without prevarication. Do you love Annie?’
“Quick as a flash came the answer,
“‘I do!’
“‘And you, Annie, do you love Robert?’
“But Annie sobbed and would not give an intelligible answer, until I sternly repeated the question, and then, between broken sobs:
“‘O, I cannot help it. Indeed, indeed I cannot help it.’
“Staggering as beneath a blow I steadied myself for a moment against the table, then, with a mighty effort of will recovering myself, I took the stolen money from my pocket and threw it on the table.
“‘Take it,’ I said, ‘and make the most of it. I have now no use for it. Be happy if you can, I shall no longer stand in the way. You are free in every sense of the word to do as you choose.’
“I turned to leave the room when Annie threw herself sobbing in my way. She clung to me in passion and despair, asserting again and again that she ‘could not help it.’ Almost forcibly I loosened her hold and pointing to the money on the table I said to Robert,
“‘See to it, that you handle the money wisely, and remember that this girl now depends upon you for the comfort, of life. I have done with both of you!’